It looks like it is in the final stages to be used for next year with the added teams all being play in games. I haven't seen any details on what seeds this would include. Personally I think it is stupid for two teams to be ranked 11th but have to "play in" but a 15th seed or 16th doesn't. Seems to me this should be all the lower teams having to do these games but I know those games often get bad TV ratings while the 11 seed gets ok ratings.


https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48621117/sources-ncaa-basketball-tournaments-set-move-76-teams

Ok. Just go ahead and start calling them the 76 trombones.

This is a stupid, unnecessary change that no one asked for except for TV execs, advertisers and bettors -- college sports' real constituencies -- but as long as they're all play-in games, I'm not too bothered by it.

I do think that all bubble teams -- power conference and mid-major -- should have to play their way in while automatic qualifiers (other than the bottom four 16 seeds) get automatic entry into the real field.

We shouldn't reward rank mediocrity just because of conference affiliation/schedule strength. Those who won their leagues should still have the reward of playing in the traditional 64-team field.

Just to give you an example of the quality of teams getting in now ..

We were Team 78 this year.

bear2be2 said:

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This is a stupid, unnecessary change that no one asked for except for TV execs, advertisers and bettors -- college sports' real constituencies -- but as long as they're all play-in games, I'm not too bothered by it.

I do think that all bubble teams -- power conference and mid-major -- should have to play their way in while automatic qualifiers (other than the bottom four 16 seeds) get automatic entry into the real field.

We shouldn't reward rank mediocrity just because of conference affiliation/schedule strength. Those who won their leagues should still have the reward of playing in the traditional 64-team field.

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I read a follow up article on ESPN about who their writers thought this benefited the most and they said the big conferences plus Big East. Their predictions basically were all the middle of the pack power conference teams that had a slightly above 500 win % would now be the play in teams. Possibly get a higher seed and the mid majors with good records but low index scores would get cut out or pushed to the play in games as in two mid majors play in instead of get in. Even if they are an auto qualifier for winning their conference tournament.

cowboycwr said:

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bear2be2 said:

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This is a stupid, unnecessary change that no one asked for except for TV execs, advertisers and bettors -- college sports' real constituencies -- but as long as they're all play-in games, I'm not too bothered by it.

I do think that all bubble teams -- power conference and mid-major -- should have to play their way in while automatic qualifiers (other than the bottom four 16 seeds) get automatic entry into the real field.

We shouldn't reward rank mediocrity just because of conference affiliation/schedule strength. Those who won their leagues should still have the reward of playing in the traditional 64-team field.

---

I read a follow up article on ESPN about who their writers thought this benefited the most and they said the big conferences plus Big East. Their predictions basically were all the middle of the pack power conference teams that had a slightly above 500 win % would now be the play in teams. Possibly get a higher seed and the mid majors with good records but low index scores would get cut out or pushed to the play in games as in two mid majors play in instead of get in. Even if they are an auto qualifier for winning their conference tournament.

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I have no doubt that this is how it will end up because money and greed ruin everything. But that's complete bull**** ... and not something that any fan of the sport wants or asked for.

The "stewards" of Division I college athletics are on the verge of killing the golden goose. And they'll deserve nothing more when they finally do.